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 Womanly Concerns with Herpes
 Painful Urination
Women with herpes often experience pain when urinating. It is important to avoid problems of urinary retention by drinking plenty of fluids to dilute the urine, this can then help to reduce the pain and stinging.
Visit the herpes treatments and herpes home remedies pages for more self-help tips that can be useful in relieving the pain and discomfort.
Your Menstrual Cycle
It is common for a woman to have outbreaks that coincide with her monthly period, or during times when the body's hormones are influenced, such as during pregnancy or moments of stress.
Is there a connection with herpes and cervical cancer?
Unlike some viruses, genital herpes is NOT considered to be associated with the development of cervical cancer.
Pregnancy and Having Children
Having herpes does not mean that you will not be able to have children (whether you are male or female).
The following information will help you to understand the complications that can arise with herpes:
Facts about being pregnant and and giving birth - with herpes
Women with genital herpes can experience a safe pregnancy and normal vaginal childbirth.
At present, HSV screening for all pregnant women nationwide is not practical as an accurate, type-specific serology (blood test) is not available in most commercial laboratories. However, one accurate serology, the Western blot is available.
If you experience your first outbreak late in pregnancy, get a Western blot serology, if at all possible.
If performed promptly, a Western blot can tell you whether the outbreak is a:
Ask your doctor to make the appropriate arrangements and to advise the lab of how many weeks pregnant you are.
Pregnancy and herpes:
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20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes
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Women with a history of genital herpes, before becoming pregnant, have a low risk of transmitting the virus to their baby. This is because of antibodies circulating in the mother's blood - these antibodies should protect the baby during pregnancy.
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"Recurrent" genital herpes presents only a minimal risk in pregnancy, though it may interfere with the woman's enjoyment of pregnancy
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If a woman has primary herpes (her first encounter with the virus) at any point in the pregnancy, there is the possibility of the virus crossing the placenta and infecting the baby in the uterus (about 5% of cases).
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This transmission of the virus to the fetus causes neonatal herpes, a potentially fatal condition
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Mothers who acquire genital herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy are at the highest risk of transmitting the virus.
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Many women find that their outbreaks tend to increase as the pregnancy progresses. This is probably because of the immune suppression that takes place to prevent the mother's body from rejecting the fetus.
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Many women who have their first outbreak of genital herpes during pregnancy do not actually have a new infection, instead, the outbreak is the first symptomatic recurrence of a longstanding infection. That is, the first time symptoms of an outbreak have occurred, even though the infection was contracted some time ago.
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The use of a fetal scalp monitor (scalp electrodes - used to monitor the baby's heartbeat during childbirth) makes tiny punctures in the baby's scalp, which may serve as portals of entry for the herpes virus
Childbirth and the delivery:
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The spread of herpes to newborns is rare
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If a woman has active herpes at the time of delivery, a Cesarean section is usually performed.
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There is a high risk of transmission if the mother has an active outbreak at the time of delivery
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There is also a small risk of transmission from asymptomatic shedding (when the virus reactivates without causing any symptoms)
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Between 10-14% of women with genital herpes have an active lesion at delivery (the odds are higher for women who acquire herpes during pregnancy, and lower for women who have had herpes for more than six years).
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Newly infected people (whether pregnant or not) have a higher rate of asymptomatic shedding for roughly a year following a primary episode.
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This higher rate of asymptomatic shedding, plus the lack of antibodies, create the greater risk for babies whose mothers are infected in the last trimester
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Less than 0.1% of babies get neonatal herpes. In about 90% of cases, neonatal herpes is transmitted when an infant comes into contact with HSV- 1 or 2 in the birth canal during delivery.
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Newborns may be infected by mothers who first get herpes just before giving birth because there has not been enough time to build up natural protection (immunity) and, when the virus is active during delivery, the baby is at risk
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Babies born prematurely may be at a slightly increased risk, even if the mother has a long-standing infection. This is because the transfer of maternal antibodies to the fetus begins at about 28 weeks of pregnancy and continues until birth.
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Maternal illness following a cesarean is approximately 28%, compared with 1.6% following a vaginal delivery
Situations in which the developing fetus may be at risk:
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A severe first episode during the first trimester (12 weeks) of pregnancy, which can lead to miscarriage.
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A first episode in the last trimester of pregnancy, when there is a large amount of virus present and insufficient time for the mother to produce antibodies to protect the unborn baby
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If a woman has primary herpes (her first encounter with the virus) at any point in the pregnancy, there is the possibility of the virus crossing the placenta and infecting the baby in the uterus (about 5% of cases).
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Mothers who acquire genital herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy are at the highest risk of transmitting the virus.
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To be infected with herpes in the last few weeks of pregnancy is rare but it may account for almost 50% of all cases of neo-natal herpes.
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If the infection is a true primary (no previous antibodies to either HSV-1 or HSV-2), and a mother becomes HSV positive at the end of pregnancy, the risk of transmission can be as high as 50%. The risk is also higher if a mother has prior infection with HSV-1, but not HSV-2.
Care during a pregnancy with Herpes
You should inform and consult your doctor or obstetrician:
- If you or your partner has genital herpes
When a male partner has genital herpes and the woman has no evidence of infection, you may need to consider:
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A blood test to establish if the woman has HSV antibodies
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The use of condoms from after the time of conception through to until the birth
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Your partner taking oral antiviral medication for the duration of the pregnancy to suppress genital herpes outbreaks
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Avoiding oral sex for the duration of the pregnancy if the woman's partner has a history of facial herpes or cold sores
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Exploring alternatives to intercourse, such as touching, kissing, fantasizing, massage
As the last stage of pregnancy approaches:
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Regular check-ups should be made
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The woman and her doctor can discuss the possibility of a Caesarean delivery
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The use of antiviral drugs can be considered
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While the risk from the scalp monitor may be quite small, a cautious approach would be for a pregnant woman to ask that it not be used unless there is a compelling medical reason (an alternative is the external monitor, which tracks the baby's heartbeat through the mother's abdomen).
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The pregnant woman should observe normal guidelines for healthy pregnancy
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Good nutrition and rest are even more important at this time.
Protecting your loved ones:
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Herpes can be spread to a child or infant if a person kisses them while having an active cold sore. If you have an active outbreak, or a family, friend or relative does, take care to avoid the cold sore coming into contact with the child.
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An infant with herpes can become very ill, causing eye or throat infections, damage to the central nervous system, mental retardation or death
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By the time a baby is around six months old, his/ her immune system is better able to cope with exposure to the virus
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If you have an outbreak of genital herpes, be sure to wash your hands before touching the baby
- Be sure to take all the necessary precautions not to spread the virus to a young child
Can I breast feed if I have herpes?
As long as the infected area does not come into direct contact with the child there is no particular risk in:
- Holding the baby
- Breastfeeding
- Having the baby in bed with you
Being a parent with herpes
Genital herpes, in either parent, does not generally affect children and there is little risk of transmission so long as normal hygiene and herpes prevention methods are practiced.
Initial exposure to HSV in babies and young children, after being kissed by someone with a cold sore, can cause gingivostomatitis, an infection of the mouth and gums which goes largely unrecognized and untreated.
Symptom of Herpes to look out for in a child
Symptoms, such as blisters on the body, can be indicative of herpes. Other symptoms, such as lethargy, poor feeding, irritability or fever could stem from any of a number of min:or problems.
If the baby is not behaving well, is feverish, irritable, and has blisters, do not delay. Take him or her to your pediatrician immediately, instead of waiting to see whether the situation will improve.
Read more in depth information of the herpes virus symptoms
Where to Now?
- Herpes Treatments
- Diet and Nutrition with Herpes
- Herpes Home Remedies
- Herpes Prevention Tips
 Talk about it on the "Herpes Discussion Forum"
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